Abstract

This letter describes two new lasers operating on the 2Σ+1/2→2Σ+1/2 bands of XeCl (at 308 nm) and KrF (at 249 nm). Pumping was achieved by high‐intensity electron beam excitation of high‐pressure Ar containing small amounts of Xe and Cl2 or Kr and F2. An efficiency of about 0.4% was observed in the initial experiments on KrF, and higher efficiencies appear possible.